U.s. Wants A Look At Waldheim File

April 09, 1986

WASHINGTON — The United States has become the third country, with Israel and Austria, to seek access to confidential United Nations files on former UN Secretary Gen. Kurt Waldheim`s activities in World War II.

A Justice Department official said Tuesday night that the decision to seek access to the UN War Crimes Commission`s file on Waldheim was made earlier in the day but that it was not known when the request would be presented .

Israel and Austria were expected to begin examining the file on Wednesday in hopes it would shed light on the wartime record of the former UN official who now is a candidate for the presidency of Austria.

The Justice Department had previously said it did not require the UN documents since it was receiving full information from the World Jewish Congress which alleges that Waldheim, as a Nazi intelligence officer, was involved in war crimes against Yugoslav partisans and civilians in the Balkans.

Waldheim, who was secretary general from 1971 to 1980, has denied the allegations.

The World Jewish Congress said 300 members of Congress have signed a petition to President Reagan to bar Waldheim from the United States.

The UN documents could help determine whether Waldheim could be barred from the United States under an act which provides for excluding anyone involved in wartime persecutions.

In Vienna, meanwhile, Austrian Chancellor Fred Sinowatz said he feels Waldheim`s credibility has been damaged regardless of what might emerge from the examination of the UN file.

Sinowatz, whose Socialist Party backs a rival to Waldheim in Austria`s May 4 presidential elections, spoke to reporters a day after outgoing President Rudolf Kirchschlager asked to see the UN commission documents.